Carmichael presses ministers on urgency in restoring Gaza aid funding

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has spoken in Parliament on the need for ministers to speed up a decision on restoring funding to UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). Mr Carmichael highlighted other countries, including Canada and Sweden, which have restored UNRWA funding in recent days.

Created in 1949, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, is the biggest UN agency operating in Gaza. It provides health care, education and other humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. It employs around 13,000 people inside Gaza. Since Israel began its offensive in response to the 7 October attacks, UNRWA has used its facilities across Gaza to shelter hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians. The UK paused funding for the UN agency following allegations by the Israeli government that UNRWA staff were involved in the 7 October Hamas attacks.

Speaking in the House, Mr Carmichael said:

“Accepting what the Minister says about there being no money due to go to UNRWA until April, can I say to him, however, that for us to continue not to fund UNRWA sends a truly dreadful signal to other countries on the world stage? Canada and Sweden have resumed their funding. Surely we should be attending to this now as a matter of some urgency?”

Responding, the Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell MP said:

“I listed the countries that take the same view as us. The right hon. Gentleman is right that there is a division, but Britain is not due to provide any funding until we reach the next financial year in April. We will, of course, seek to do everything we can to resolve the matter by the time that funding is due.”

Reacting after the exchange, Mr Carmichael said:

“There is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and it is getting worse by the day. This is not just a matter of the ongoing violence but of a growing threat of starvation and disease due to the restrictions Israel has placed on aid going into the territory. This is precisely where UNRWA can play a vital role in protecting lives.

“Ministers cannot hide behind the fig leaf of the timing of payments. Other countries have already resolved their concerns and restored funding to UNRWA – if the government has evidence to prevent it doing the same it should say so now.”